"Called to Contribute: Findings from an In-depth Interview Study of US Catholic Women and the Diaconate"
I am honored and humbled today to share the findings from an in-depth study conducted this year of US Catholic Women and the Diaconate.
The lead researcher is University of Notre Dame sociologist Tricia Bruce, PhD, who found that Catholic women feel called into service, constrained by barriers to ordination and service reserved for men in the Church, must adapt creatively to do “de facto deacon” ministry anyway, and contribute in ways that uphold the very foundations of the local and global Catholicism.
Read the executive summary in English or Spanish, and download the full report here.
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The October issue of America Magazine includes a talk given by Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ in May 1996, reprinted from the archives. "Gender and Priesthood: Examining the Teaching," summarizes the Church's teaching on the ordination of women to the priesthood. He concludes his argument with the following (rather surprising, given all that precedes):
"The question whether women can be ordained to the diaconate requires further exploration. Further study may be needed to determine whether women can hold jurisdiction, and if so, under what conditions. In my opinion a calm and open discussion of issues such as these is not only legitimate but, if conducted without acrimony, could clarify and advance the doctrine of the church."
It is our hope that this report can be of service to the "further exploration" needed on the issue of women, ordination, and the diaconate.
In Discerning Deacons our mission is to encourage an open discussion. We aim to avoid acrimony by grounding ourselves in a posture of active hope and courageous witness, listening and discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit.
I hope this study can be received in the spirit in which it was conducted: an openness to listen deeply and to create a confidential space where one can speak honestly about one's own life. We recognize that at times, an honest account includes sharing of grief, lament, and pain as well as commitment, resilience and joy.
As Dr. Tricia Bruce and her research team (Cella Masso-Rivetti and Jennifer Sherman) have uncovered, there are patterns to the way women are being called and the way they navigate and live out the call they experience.
I hope this report helps to advance the notion that we are walking on a journey together. That while each of us has our own path, there are in fact shared experiences and dynamics that we might take note of, for the sake of the Church and its wider discernment.
If you find it worth the reading, I encourage you to share the report with others. And if you want to publicly share your own response, we plan to post them on the report website.
Just drop me a line!
With peace,
Casey Stanton
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